We are a very friendly dinghy sailing and windsurfing club with one of the most beautiful settings in the whole of the UK. Based on the 253 acre Pontsticill Reservoir in the Brecon Beacons National Park. With this location even non-sailing members of your family can enjoy a lovely day out, with a gentle stroll around the reservoir or up into the hills, simply enjoying the views.

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Try Sailing

We are going to run FREE open days with "try sailing" experiences for beginners in May and June in 2024. Click below for more details.

Enjoying trying sailing at Merthyr Tydfil Sailing Club

Our open days in May have been a great success in recent years. If you would like to try sailing, whether for the first time or after a few years away from the sport, please click here for more details of what we can do this year. Even if you cannot make it on our specific open days, visit the page to email us and we can arrange a trial sail on another date.

Join In...

Can you believe that you can sail with us for just £90; for a family, not per month, per year! OK, if you want tuition that's a little extra as is keeping your own boat at the club or contributing towards the upkeep of the club boats; but most of us pay around £200 per year (£4 per week). See the "Joining" page and get in touch to find out more or message us through the Facebook page below...

Stay in Touch via our Facebook page

Merthyr Tydfil Sailing Club

About Merthyr Tydfil Sailing Club

We sail everything from windsurfing boards to 20ft cats and have members of all ages, with a wide range of abilities. All are welcome. Come along and try it for free before you join. Certainly don't think you have to buy a boat before joining; come and try sailing first and chat with the members who'll be happy to take you out in their craft so that you can try several types before deciding what to buy.

The emphasis within this club is on fun. We do race but the atmosphere is always friendly and welcoming to newcomers. We will organise training days each year to assist improvers and beginners. Racing is organised for the Sundays throughout the sailing season, from mid-March to Boxing Day. There are spring, summer, autumn and winter series with a trophy for each and many other trophy races throughout the year, with several on bank-holidays. During most of the season there is also sailing on Saturdays, this is a more informal affair with people just cruising, teaching others or organising small races. During the summer months with lighter evenings members who live close enough, organise their own series and additional training for Wednesday evenings.

The younger members of the family in age or heart may also enjoy a trip on the Brecon Mountain Railway which now passes the club and has its terminus near the dam of the reservoir.

Being almost in the centre of South Wales and only a short distance from the "Heads of the Valleys" road we are very conveniently located for people to visit from the large population centres of Newport, Cardiff and Swansea. We have members who visit from as far away as Malvern in the east and the Swansea valley in the west.


Some views of Merthyr Tydfil Sailing Club

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Quick Links

Outdoor Activity Centres

There are two centres; Dolygaer Outdoor centre operated by Parkwood leisure and Dolygaer mountain centre operated by Mid-Glamorgan Scout council, both are situated at the head of the reservoir.

  • Parkwood Outdoors DolyGaer are affiliated to the sailing club and offer training courses and adventure days and weekends in all sorts of activities on the water and off.
    Parkwood Outdoors Dolygaer logo
  • Dol-y-Gaer Mountain Centre operated by Mid-Glamorgan Scout Council provides a bunkhouse and other accommodation and is available for other community groups to book too. Check their website for details.

Other Sports at Ponsticill Reservoir

Fishing

Canoeing & SUPs

  • The sailing club does not control access for canoeists (nor SUPs). A "National Park Reservoir Passport" scheme has been established by the Brecon Beacons National Park and Dwr Cymru Welsh Water that permits access for organised groups who are members of the South Wales Outdoor Activities Providers Group. More information is available from the Brecon Beacons National Park webpage specifically for this scheme..

Swimming

  • Swimming is not permitted at any time. For the same biosecurity reasons outlined above and especially for your safety. This is a deep water reservoir: The water may appear warm at the edges and on the surface during better weather but it rarely warms more than 20 cm deep. You will get cold. People have drowned.

    This advisory video from Dwr Cymru Welsh Water describes the anguish of the mother and friends of a young man who tried to swim across the reservoir several years ago. Please don't try.